Method of upholstering furniture



NW. 2%, I w, BOARDMAN I 2,138,414Q

METHOD OF UPHOLSTERING FUR NITURE Filed Jan. 22, 1938 Patented Nov. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF UPHOLSTERING FURNITURE Application January 22, 1938, Serial No. 186,296

'2' Claims.

This invention relates to a method of upholstering furniture and a cushion element useful therein; with an object in View of providing for the upholstering of chair backs, in particular,

with simplicity, economy, and superior finish.

Another object consists in providing such a method whereby the cushion and its surfacing material may be formed as a unit, and then expeditiously united to the framework of a chair or the like.

Another object consists in providing such a method whereby, in uniting the cushion to the framework, the act of causing the cushion edge to conform to a convex edge of the framework, will automatically cause the cushion to conform to the concavity of the frame surface.

Another object consists in providing such a cushion, in which the padding, facing material, and backing material, are formed into a single element, which element may be caused accurately to conform to the framework of the chair or the like by the mere procedure of turning down its edges and tacking, or otherwise securing them, to the edges of the framework.

A further object consists in providing certain improvements in the form, construction and ar-- rangement of the several parts, in the materials employed, and in the steps followed, whereby the above named and other objects may effectively be obtained.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawing in which,

Fig. 1 represents a detail elevation of a chair back, and adjacent parts, to which my invention has been applied. r

Fig. 2 represents a vertical section taken in the plane of the line II--II of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 represents a horizontal section taken in the plane of the line III-III of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 represents a plan view of the backing for the cushion.

Fig. 5 represents a plan View, partly broken away and partly in dotted lines, of the completed cushion.

Fig. 6 represents a horizontal section taken in the plane of the line VI-VI of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 represents an enlarged detail section, showing how the cushion is fastened to the chair frame. I

Fig. 8 represents a similar view showing how the elements of the cushion are united at their edges.

The backs of chairs are commonly formed by framework which is concave on its front surface to promote the comfort of the individual, and which is convex on its upper edge for ornamental purposes. It is customary to upholster these backs with 2. padding of suitable material, such as cotton, wool, felted material, etc., provided with a surface covering of any suitable sheet material such, for instance, as imitation leather. The facing material is generally secured to the side edges or backs of the peripheral frame members, by tacks or in any other suitable way, and there is a difiiculty in obtaining a smooth finish 0f the facing material mainly because of the concavity of the back frame surface and the convexity of its upper edge hereinabove men tioned.

My invention overcomes this existing difficulty, and also provides a very economical and expeditious manner of upholstering chair backs. This of substantial importance in the manufacture of chairs generally, and of particular importance in the manufacture of chairs of the cheap folding type which are produced in large quantities, are sold at a low price and are subjected to hard usage.

In carrying out my invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, I provide a backing, denoted by I, for the cushion element, which backing is preferably composed of suitable sheet material such as fiber board or a reasonably good grade of cardboard.

This backing is scored or creased, as by a suit- 35 able stamping mechanism or roller, so as to form peripheral flanges 2, 3, 4, 5. The lines of scoring are so located and shaped as to form within them an area suited to the size and shape of the upholstery cushion to be produced and united with the chair frame.

Upon this backing element 1 is laid a proper amount of any suitable padding or cushioning material 6, such as cotton, wool, hair, felted substance, or any other preferred material.

A facing sheet 1, which may consist, for instance, of imitation leather, is then laid over the padding, its edges drawn around the edges of flanges 2, 3, 4, 5, and the said edges then secured to the back of said flanges by a suitable adhesive or in any other desired manner. To facilitate the turning of the edges of the facing sheet 1 around the flanges 2, 3, 4, 5, I preferably slit the said facing sheet at the corners, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5. This last named figure shows the upholstery unit or cushion consisting of the parts assembled as just described, the flanges and the scoring of the backing I being indicated in broken lines.

The upholstery or cushion element, thus completed, is then assembled with or united to the frame of the chair back, which is shown in the drawing as having uprights 8, 9, and cross bars H], H. The cross bars, as is customary, are concave, or bowed, in order to accommodate the back of the individual; and the' front edges of the uprights 3, 9, are beveled inwardly, as shown in Fig. 3, to conform to the said concavity of the cross members. The top of the cross member It, as is also customary, is curved or convexed, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

In uniting the cushion element to the said back frame, the cushion is laid against the frame, and the flange 5, together with the overlying portion of facing sheet I, is turned down along the lower edge of cross member H, to which it is secured, as for instance by tacks i2. In order to conform neatly to the concavity of the cross member H, the flange 5 is preferably slit in three places, collectively marked I3, thereby affording opportunity for a slight shortening in length of the said flange, at the time of the fastening step, without generating wrinkles or puckers in the material.

The next step is to bend down, either flange 3 or d, together with the facing material that surrounds the said flange, and secure the same to the side of an upright as, for instance, by tacks id in the case of flange 3.

Thereafter flange 4, with its enveloping material, is turned down along the side of upright Q, and fastened, as by tacks i5. This bending doyvn and fastening of flange 4 will draw the facing material 1 tightly across the chair back frame in a transverse direction because of the fact that the said sheet facing material lies outside of the flange i and thus has to follow'a longer path than the said flange in a transverse or lateral direction. The thicker the material of which the flange and backing member i are composed, the greater will be the stretch upon the facing sheet 7 as a result of this operation.

The cushion element is now well secured to the chair frame, but it does not conform to the longitudinal or vertical concavity of the frame, and there are apt to be slight transverse wrinkles in the facing sheet 1. In this condition, the final fitting of the cushion to the frame is accomplished by the mere act of bending down flange 2 along the top of cross bar Iii and fastening the same, as by tacks 16. This step will draw the facing sheet 1 taut in a vertical direction, for the reason already described, and will thereby remove the transverse wrinkles just mentioned. But, more importantly, this step, owing to the convexity of the top of cross bar it, will cause the cushion to conform to the longitudinal or vertical concavity of the back frame, as well shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing. Thus there is obtained a snug fit in all directions; a smooth finish; and a surface which adapts itself to the back of the individual in accordance with the design of the frame members instead of presenting itself in bulged or convexed form.

It will be recognized that'this cushion element may be very cheaply and expeditiously manufactured in large numbers adapted for ready union with the chair frame by the simplest of manual operations just described; and that there will be obtained the figure conforming shape of the back upholstery which can otherwise only be obtained by expensive handwork of skilled operatives.

My invention has been described in particular connection with upholstering the backs of chairs but, in its broader aspect, I contemplate its utility in connection with other parts of furniture mainly because of the simplicity and adaptability of the cushion element.

It will be understood that various changes may be resorted to in the form, construction, and arrangement of the several parts, and in the materials employed and steps followed, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; hence I do not intend to be limited to the details herein shown and described except as they are set forth in the claims.

What I claim is:

1. A method of upholstering furniture including, providing a cushion element having a flexible facing and a stiff, bendable backing secured together at their edges, applying the cushion element to a portion of the furniture frame with the backing adjacent the frame, and bending the edges of the element around the frame for drawing the facing taut and facilitating securing of the cushion element to the frame.

2. A method of upholstering furniture including, providing a cushion element having a flexible facing and a stiff, bendable backing secured together at their edges, one of said edges being convex in form, applying the cushion element to a concave portion of the furniture frame having a convex edge, with the backing adjacent the frame and the convex edges of the. cushion element and frame coinciding, bending the edges of the element around the frame for drawing the facing taut and causing the element to conform to the concavity of the frame, and securing said edges in their bent position.

3. A method of upholstering furniture including, providing a cushion element having a flexible facing and a stiff, bendable backing secured together at their edges, one of said edges being convex in form, applying the cushion element to a concave portion of the furniture frame havinga convex edge, with the backing adjacent the frame and the convex edges of the cushion element and frame coinciding, bending the edges of the element around the frame for drawing the facing taut and causing the element to conform to the concavity of the frame, and securing said edges in their bent position, the said convex edge of the cushion element being bent and secured after the bending and securing of the other edges.

4. A cushion element for upholstering furniture comprising, a stiff backing and a flexible facing, the backing being formed with bendable peripheral flanges thereon, a said flange being convex, and the facing extending over said flanges and being secured to the rear thereof, whereby the bending of said convex flange will cause the flexible facing to assume. a concave form with the depression of the concavity extending substantially at right angles to said flange.

5. A cushion element for upholstering furniture comprising, a stiff backing and a flexible facing, the backing being formed with bendable peripheral flanges thereon, a said flange being convex, the facing extending over said flanges and being secured to the rear thereof, and cushioning material located between the facing and the backing, whereby the bending of said convex flange will cause the flexible facing and cushioning material to assume a concave form with the 7. A cushion element for upholstering furniture comprising, a stiff backing and a flexible facing, the backing being scored to form peripheral flanges thereon, a said flange being convex, the facing extending over said flanges and being secured to the rear thereof, and cushioning material located between the facing and the backing, whereby the bending of said convex flange along its scored line will cause the flexible facing and cushioning material to assume a concave form with the depression of the concavity extending substantially at right angles to said flanges.

WHITLOCK BOARDMAN. 

